solutions
stabilize tenants
At the core of our proposed solutions is the belief that the way we fix the issues facing our city is by attacking the source of the issues facing our community's housing problems, not the symptoms.
Stop Evictions Prevent Evictions | Instead of stopping an eviction in the courtroom, lets prevent it from even coming up by providing assistance on the front end of the situation the resident faces before it balloons into an eviction. Neither owner, or resident, wants unneeded evictions.
The Mechanics of Monroe County's Rental Housing MarkeT October 2021
3 Problems
Responsible owners looking to prevent financial losses
Reducing perceived risk in the eyes of responsible owners
Too many negligent owners operating in Rochester
It should be noted that items 1 & 2 are not defined as fundamental problems with the housing market, simply the barriers that low income renters face when looking to rent higher quality housing. Good, responsible owners, the types that the city wants operating in the high income, middle income, & low income communities, have these good business practices in place which often prevent low income renters from entering higher quality housing. The study's recommendations try and bridge that gap between what responsible owners want, and what low income renters can bring, in order to ensure that both parties are taken care of & protected.
6 recommendations
Security deposit bumps for low income tenants to qualify for higher quality housing (Grant 2)
Resident Education | Credit repair support, Financial literacy education, Good tenant behavior education, Emergency funds, Employment assistance, Additional forms of assistance
Increase use of the Rochester Land Bank Corporation to prevent the flow of distressed properties to negligent owners
Provide business training to Mom & Pop* owners to help them establish stronger business practices
Provide grants to owners in low income markets to upgrade/improve their properties & maintain rents at an affordable rate for up to 10 years. (Grants 1, 3, & 4)
Subsidize the demolition of blighted properties & acquisition of vacant lots in a block radius and construct subsidized Affordable Housing.
Our grant proposal addresses recommendations 1 & 5.
*Mom & Pop defined as an owner who lives in one of their units & owns 1-2 rental properties total.
SOLUTION 1
affordable housing incentive grants
We have a 4 grant suite draft that we believe helps address the core of the issues facing our city | supply & affordability
In conjunction with existing programs like HUD affordable housing developments, the Rochester Land Bank Corporation, subsidies being worked by various nonprofits, & some city programs, this grant suite will do the following things:
Activate vacant/abandoned properties for rent, or sale to local residents
Attract good owners back into areas of high need
Help drive out negligent owners without punishing the good ones
Reduce rents for local residents in need
Increase code compliance
grant 1 | affordable housing incentive grant
A one time $5,000 grant to an owner to rent a unit at 75% of the HUD Fair Market Rent for 3 years, rent to someone at or below 60% of the area Median Family Income (MFI). maintain code compliance, and offer renewals to the resident for the 3 year term. This addresses recommendation 5 from the 2021 Study.
This reduces rents for low income residents
Increases code compliance
Ensures the resident can stay in the property for up to 3 years if desired
grant 2 | eviction risk mitigation grant
A $10,000 reimbursement of losses from an eviction for participants in Grant 1 | Affordable Housing Incentive Grant. Instead of offering security deposit offsets, this acts as a form of insurance in order to assure the owner that their losses (unpaid rent, damages, legal fees, etc.) will be covered in the event of an eviction. This addresses recommendation 1 from the 2021 study.
Helps ensure low income residents have access to higher quality housing
Protects the property owners from undue financial loss
grant 3 | rehabilitation grant I (sale)
A $30,000 grant to an owner who acquires a vacant single family home in a targeted area (TBD by the City), renovates it, then sells it to an income eligible owner occupant. Many properties in the city sit vacant because the cost to renovate them is just a little more than their resale value, this grant will help bridge that gap and activate otherwise vacant, blighted structures. This addresses recommendation 5 from the 2021 Study.
Increases home ownership among low income residents
Reduces blight & crime in areas with lots of vacant properties
Increases housing supply by activating otherwise vacant/blighted structures
Exact grant amount TBD and may vary by location
grant 4 | rehabilitation II (rental)
A $25,000 grant per unit to an owner who acquires a vacant 1-4 unit property in a targeted area (TBD by the City), renovates it, rents it out to a resident that qualifies for Grant 1 | Affordable Housing Incentive Grant & follows the guidelines of the program. Many properties in the city sit vacant because the cost to renovate them is just a little more than their resale value, this grant will help bridge that gap and activate otherwise vacant, blighted structures. This addresses recommendation 5 from the 2021 Study.
Increases quality, affordable rentals in areas of high need
Reduces blight & crime in areas with lots of vacant properties
Exact grant amount TBD and may vary by location
Solution
Partner with owners by offering renovation grants to owners (between $5,000 - $10,000) who rent at affordable rates & have current C of O's.
Petition lawmakers to increase Section 8 funding so it can provide more vouchers.
Utilize existing code enforcement mechanisms to address negligence from owners instead of additional regulation.
solution 2
increase housing choice voucher (section 8) funding
HCV (formerly known as Section 8) has proven to be one of the government's most effective tools in addressing housing issues across the country. Funding rent assistance programs or rent subsidy programs, like HCV, help low income residents close the gap in order to afford housing that can meet their needs.
solution 3
Utilize existing code enforcement mechanisms to address negligence from owners instead of additional regulation
Rochester code enforcement has the protocols at it's disposal to appropriately handle reports of violations. Funding more positions, and filling the empty positions, would go a long way in addressing negligent owners.